Survivor of Fatal Crash Recovering

Published: Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:50 p.m.

WINTER HAVEN | The family of a man who survived nearly 10 hours trapped inside a partially submerged car is asking for prayers for the families of the two men who died in the crash.

Richard Edwards said Saturday that his son, Robert Edwards, was at his family's home in Winter Haven recovering from the accident that killed the 22-year-old's longtime friends.

"Physically, medically he's fine," Richard Edwards said.

Robert Edwards was a backseat passenger in his friend Rafael Fernandes De Aguiar Valim's car when it flipped off Country Club Road in Winter Haven and into a five-foot ditch early Thursday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Valim, 25, and a front-seat passenger, Taylor Jeffrey "T.J." Bowden, 23, both of Winter Haven, were trapped in the car and apparently drowned, the Sheriff's Office said. Bowden is a grandson of former Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden,

Richard Edwards said it's a miracle his son survived being unconscious for most of the time he was trapped in the car. Only a portion of the bottom of the car was sticking out of the murky creek, creating a small air pocket where Robert Edwards stayed alive.

A Sheriff's Office dive team searching the water heard what sounded like grunting, deputies said. Minutes later, Robert Edwards, conscious but barely coherent, was pulled out alive.

He was taken to Winter Haven Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia and a minor cut under his eye.

Richard Edwards said his son was not feeling well enough to speak with The Ledger on Saturday, but his family released a statement about the crash.

"We would like to thank the first responders, the equipment operators, the deputies and the divers," Richard Edwards said in the statement. "Without their courage, without their expertise, one life many not have emerged."

Robert Edwards' mother, Lori Edwards, taught the three friends as a physical education teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Winter Haven. She taught them how to play basketball and soccer, Richard Edwards said.

He said his son and Bowdenknew one another since they were young children. Robert Edwards now lives in Boca Raton and was in Winter Haven visiting family during the Christmas holiday.

Preliminary interviews with the victims' friends and family indicate the three men were at Indigo's bar on U.S. 17 in Winter Haven on Wednesday evening, the Sheriff's Office said.

The crash occurred about 2 a.m. Thursday when Valim lost control of his Mitsubishi Lancer. The car skidded across the road and crashed through a fence, coming to rest in the ditch, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The car was spotted about 7:45 a.m. by a Florida Refuse garbage truck driver, Saul Ernesto Velasquez-Mejia of Polk City.

Richard Edwards said his family is grateful someone saw the flipped car and called for help.

"Who knows how many cars drove past — maybe even us," he said. He said his family is thankful for the support they have received from the entire community and they are trying to move forward. "Our hearts are extremely heavy with sorrow at the loss of Robert's two friends, T.J. and Raffy," Richard Edwards said. "Our prayers, our support and our love go out to both of their families. We will be forever connected."

<p>WINTER HAVEN | The family of a man who survived nearly 10 hours trapped inside a partially submerged car is asking for prayers for the families of the two men who died in the crash. </p><p>Richard Edwards said Saturday that his son, Robert Edwards, was at his family's home in Winter Haven recovering from the accident that killed the 22-year-old's longtime friends. </p><p>"Physically, medically he's fine," Richard Edwards said. </p><p>Robert Edwards was a backseat passenger in his friend Rafael Fernandes De Aguiar Valim's car when it flipped off Country Club Road in Winter Haven and into a five-foot ditch early Thursday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. </p><p>Valim, 25, and a front-seat passenger, Taylor Jeffrey "T.J." Bowden, 23, both of Winter Haven, were trapped in the car and apparently drowned, the Sheriff's Office said. Bowden is a grandson of former Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden,</p><p>Richard Edwards said it's a miracle his son survived being unconscious for most of the time he was trapped in the car. Only a portion of the bottom of the car was sticking out of the murky creek, creating a small air pocket where Robert Edwards stayed alive.</p><p>A Sheriff's Office dive team searching the water heard what sounded like grunting, deputies said. Minutes later, Robert Edwards, conscious but barely coherent, was pulled out alive.</p><p>He was taken to Winter Haven Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia and a minor cut under his eye. </p><p>Richard Edwards said his son was not feeling well enough to speak with The Ledger on Saturday, but his family released a statement about the crash.</p><p>"We would like to thank the first responders, the equipment operators, the deputies and the divers," Richard Edwards said in the statement. "Without their courage, without their expertise, one life many not have emerged."</p><p>Robert Edwards' mother, Lori Edwards, taught the three friends as a physical education teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Winter Haven. She taught them how to play basketball and soccer, Richard Edwards said. </p><p>He said his son and Bowdenknew one another since they were young children. Robert Edwards now lives in Boca Raton and was in Winter Haven visiting family during the Christmas holiday.</p><p>Preliminary interviews with the victims' friends and family indicate the three men were at Indigo's bar on U.S. 17 in Winter Haven on Wednesday evening, the Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>The crash occurred about 2 a.m. Thursday when Valim lost control of his Mitsubishi Lancer. The car skidded across the road and crashed through a fence, coming to rest in the ditch, according to the Sheriff's Office. </p><p>The car was spotted about 7:45 a.m. by a Florida Refuse garbage truck driver, Saul Ernesto Velasquez-Mejia of Polk City.</p><p>Richard Edwards said his family is grateful someone saw the flipped car and called for help. </p><p>"Who knows how many cars drove past — maybe even us," he said. He said his family is thankful for the support they have received from the entire community and they are trying to move forward. "Our hearts are extremely heavy with sorrow at the loss of Robert's two friends, T.J. and Raffy," Richard Edwards said. "Our prayers, our support and our love go out to both of their families. We will be forever connected."</p>